West Devon

West Devon's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion and health.

The population passed 50,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of West Devon increased by 9.6%, from about 48,800 to 53,600.

The addition of just over 4,700 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Devon was home to, on average, 0.33 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the South West's least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

West Devon stood out from other areas for housing

In West Devon, the proportion went up from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011, while across England it fell from 19% to 18%. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 14% to 13%.

Private renting in West Devon increased from 12% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76% to 73%.

The rate of social housing was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that that rented socially across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in West Devon

The number of people in West Devon that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 7,500 in 2001 to just over 14,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 27% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in West Devon that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 37,000 in 2001 to just over 34,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 3,600 to just under 4,600 (from 7.3% to 8.5%).

About 310 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 170 in 2001 (0.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in West Devon increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and West Devon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in West Devon

The proportion of married people fell in West Devon, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except South Gloucestershire and Isles of Scilly.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

During this period, West Devon overtook six local authority areas, including South Hams and Isles of Scilly, to become the South West local authority area with the second-highest percentage of married people.

In 2011, just over one in two (55%) people aged 16 and over in West Devon said they were married, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 23% to 25%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Devon residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.3% to 5.1% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of West Devon residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Devon decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Devon, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in West Devon working less than 16 hours increased from 2.4% to 3.6% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in seven (13%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 17% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in West Devon increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Devon, the South West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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